I am told this is a safe place to talk about anything. So here goes:
To those I haven't really interacted with, please forgive this as my first intro - I am not normally a "hysterical" person:
Begin rant:
If I read one more post that implies that cradle Orthodox "don't really understand" Orthodoxy, I am going to puke all over this forum. (Well, okay, so it will only be on MY monitor and it won't even affect your reality...nonetheless....)
I understand that many here are converts who have read and read and read...This is WONDERFUL and I am so happy to see you in the Church.
At the same time, for a cradle like me, who really DOES know the Faith and the Church, it begins to feel like converts don't really like us all that much. It begins to feel like you see us and treat us, the same way as the evangelical protestants who come to our homelands to convert us because we're "not really Christian" or we're just "cultural Christians" who haven't "accepted Jayzuz Chriiiiiiiiiist as our pursonel Lawrd and Sayvier".
It is really insulting and hurtful to us cradles to hear you say things like that. I have heard this from converts in my church, and I have read similar statements here in this forum. I think you mean well, but you are hurting us deeply - cutting us to the very bone of our being when you imply that we don't know as much as you. We may not have read the same books - but this is our Church too. We have bled for it, and some of us have family who have died for it.
When I read things on here that is not Orthodox, I am always afraid to say anything because I don't want to offend, I don't want to turn people away, or cause an argument. I hesitate all the time and I feel like I am walking around on egg-shells.
I admire you converts for your zeal, your knowledge and your "journey home". But pleaase: wipe your dirty feet before you come in the door and if you take a shower, please hang the shower curtain INSIDE the tub. Thanks.
I love you.
End rant.